“What Makes Our Special Care Unit

Special ?”

Deer Lodge CentreDementia Care Unit

Maureen Chouinard, Manager of Resident CareArlis Decorte, Clinical Resource Nurse

Nancy Fiebelkorn, Social Worker

SCU – Tower, SCU-West

47 beds on two units Tower opened in 1988, West opened

in 2006 Higher staff to resident ratio Units address behaviours, care

needs Male or female; veterans or

community applications

Philosophy of Care

Equal, individualized, respectful and safe care

A person’s individuality is unique and does not change because of cognitive impairment

Staff are advocates A specialized environment is required

for dementia care Families have the right to be informed

Philosophy of Care (continued)

Specialized skills and abilities are essential

Interdisciplinary team approach End of life care Upholding Resident’s Bill of Rights Effective and efficient use of

available resources

SCU Admission Criteria

Age Primary and secondary diagnoses Environment Behaviours Risks

How to Access the Special Care Unit at

DLC WRHA Behavioral Panel Contact the panel secretary at 940-3600 Access Office is at 490 Hargrave St. Application should include an A/A form, a

Dependency Assessment Supplement and the Behavioral Assessment Supplement.

A brief summary of the resident/client will be submitted along with behavior maps, recent progress notes, consults and lab work.

Behavioural Panel Purpose:

To facilitate the management of individuals with challenging behaviors in the most appropriate care setting.

Behavioural Panel Guiding Principles:

Behaviors are not being managed in their current environments

Existing resources already accessed Information meets panel criteria and

standards Panel meets monthly Additional problem-solving may be

required to ensure placement in proper environment

Behavioural PanelWho Sits on the Panel?

Medical Director of the Rehab/Geriatrics Program Director of the LTC Access Centre or designate A representative from a PCH A representative from the Geriatric Mental

Health Team A CNS for the WRHA long term care program Access Coordinators Health care professionals/family who have been

integral to managing the individual’s care needs

Preadmission Visits

Purpose:• Confirm the information provided by panel• Meet needs of the applicant?• Plan for any special needs or equipment• Meet the applicant and family

Completed by the Social Worker and Unit Manager once accepted by Behaviour Panel

Visit usually within one week, at applicant’s current residence

The Interdisciplinary Approach

The SCU at Deer Lodge Centre utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to care.

Weekly meetings Goal is to review each resident on a

quarterly basis. Post-admission and Annual conferences All members of the team are available

to family Contact information provided

The Interdisciplinary Team Consists of:

The Resident and Family Attending Physician and Consultant

Psychiatrist Manager of Resident Care Clinical Resource Nurse The Nursing Team-RNs, RPNs, HCAs

The Interdisciplinary Team Consists of

(continued) : Social Worker Pharmacist Physiotherapist Occupational Therapist Dietician Recreation Facilitators Spiritual Care

What Gives Us a Sense of Well-being?

-The Bradford Dementia Group

Well-Being (continued)

What do we need to maintain a sense of well-being?

A sense of control A sense of who we are A feeling of safety and security The ability to communicate with others The feeling that we are socially

included

Well-Being (continued)

Having meaningful things to do Being taken seriously- do others

respect and recognize when we feel frustrated, angry, sad, anxious, tired/exhausted, confused, lonely, frightened?

Reactive Behaviours

Reactive Behaviour- the way in which a person responds to a specific set of conditions.

P.I.E.C.E.S. program

All residents on the Special Care Unit have a behavioural history which has made residing in a regular personal care home setting difficult or impossible.

Reactive Behaviours (continued)

Reactive behaviours may include: Restlessness Calling out

Wandering Hoarding Resistance to Care Agitation Anxiety Aggression Withdrawal Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour

Reactive Behaviours (continued)

Staff are encouraged and trained to monitor and document reactive behaviour:

Antecedents (Triggers) Behaviours Interventions Consequences

Reactive Behaviours (continued)

Reactive Behaviours (continued)

Key Elements of CareAlzheimer’s Australia, 2003

Assessment Individualized Care Interdisciplinary Team Approach Programming Relationships

Key Elements of Care (continued)

Key Elements of Care (continued)

Communication Skills Physical Environment Flexibility in Routines and Practices Staff Training and Education

Communication

Communication with persons who are cognitively impaired may be difficult and frustrating at times for both you and them

Remember that behaviour is a form of communication for residents that have impaired expressive ability

Communication Areas to focus on include:

Approach in a gentle manner and identify yourself by name

Maintain eye contact Provide gentle direction Do not make an issue of a mistake,

they happen Avoid asking facts

Communication Areas to focus on include

(continued): Reduction of distractions and

background noise Reorientation may not work Appropriate touch Items and illustrations to convey

messages

Visiting

May be difficult for families/caregivers – We, by nature, need something from our visits• Love• Reassurance• Support returned to us• Ease of guilt• Confirmation of our decisions• To feel that a connection remains

Visiting (continued)

Goals of Visiting Who should Visit When to Visit Where to Visit What to do when you Visit Why Visiting may be difficult Saying goodbye after your Visit When younger family members Visit

Caregiver Support Group

Informal group for families/friends that meet once a month

Connections for them, connections for us

Share questions and information about SCU

Supportive and safe environment Luncheons

Case Study

79 year-old gentleman residing on a general medical hospital ward.

dx of Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s disease. hx of resistance and aggression during

care, occasionally towards co-residents. Poor response to psychotropics -

oversedation-minimal effect on behaviour.

Case Study Care Plan in General Hospital

Setting 6 staff to provide care Resident to be restrained on bed utilizing

4 staff, 2 staff to prepare and provide care.

Broda with lap table for meals and rest periods.

Current Rx • Carbamazepine 200mg bid• Trazodone 75 mg od 18:00

Case Study Care Plan on SCU - Goals

Gain the resident’s trust. Create a “resident-friendly” care

plan. Involve resident and family in care

planning-create an environment where resident and family have decision-making authority.

Ensure Consistency/reliability.

Case Study Care Plan on SCU -

Interventions ADL Care Broda chair and table for meals. “Bath-in-a-bag” products - no tub baths,

no showers Incontinent product-pullup/brief/overnight Monitoring behaviour on unit Plan all care -

Scheduled………..CONSISTENT

Case Study Care Plan on SCU (continued) Initially provide 4 staff for care and

safety “Normalized care”, bathroom routine When resident requires care, approach

and “be with” resident Reapproach after a “break period”, invite

him to attend his room with you, or simply walk to room with him.

If care required more urgently, need to be more “matter of fact”

Case Study Care Plan on SCU (continued)

Adjustment to medication following admission

Trazodone Rx on revised care plan: 07:00 - 25 mg. 12:00 - 50 mg. 17:00 - 50 mg.

Case Study Care Plan on SCU - Outcomes 2-3 staff to provide care, dependant

on mood - (do not provide care alone)

Aggression with co-residents Broda chair/table for meals ADL/Bathing Ongoing staff education The challenge of CONSISTENCY

End of Life Care

Advance Care Plan/Health Care Directive Care planning around a progressive illness What is Comfort Care and its focus?

• Pain• Difficulty Swallowing• Lack of Appetite• Labored Breathing• Skin Breakdown• Loving Presence

When the Resident No Longer Requires

SCU

Resident no longer requires the specialized programs of our unit.

Social Worker prepares the family Move to another unit in DLC or

another facility

Barriers to Discharge

Long Wait Lists History of reactive behavior Families reluctance to move Concerns of receiving facility

• Small unit vs large unit• Treatment unit vs long-term care unit

ConclusionWhat Have We Learned?

The value of the unit staff Admissions – need to try new things Environmental challenges

• Closed-in vs. open spaces, Wall protection, Decoration

Low stimulus is a great idea but…… Require a balance between

environment and pharmacological treatment